Note 1670 — BOOK IV THE PLAY-HOUSES (continued 5)
Reading edition
T. M. Black Book (1604, Bullen, Middleton, viii. 7) opens with Lucifer ascending, as Prologue to his own Play:
Now is hell landed here upon the earth, When Lucifer, in limbs of burning gold, Ascends the dusty theatre of the world,... ... my tortured spleen Melts into mirthful humour at this fate, That heaven is hung so high, drawn up so far, And made so fast, nailed up with many a star; And hell the very shop-board of the earth,... ... And now that I have vaulted up so high Above the stage-rails of this earthen globe, I must turn actor and join companies.